Simon to take charge

NEW SP PNG Hunters five-eighth Charlie Simon is an almost like-for-like replacement for Ase Boas, and coach Michael Marum is confident he can lead the side to victory in their round 8 Q-Cup match with the Burleigh Bears on Sunday.
“Charlie has played seven games for us at several positions — hooker, halfback and five-eighth — so I’m sure he can handle the situation,” Marum said of the Eastern Highlander, who is in his debut Q-Cup season.
Simon has a similar style and demeanor to Boas, who was dropped for this clash with the competition leaders at Pizzey Park, Burleigh Heads.
“Charlie will also be our goal kicker and be our main play-maker but he will have Watson (Boas) and other senior players to help him guide the side so he should be OK.”
Simon, who led the Lae Snax Tigers to back-to-back premierships (2016 and 2017) in the Digicel Cup, will not be overawed by the challenge in front of him and his team.
The Hunters are in 11th spot and need to find some fighting spirit to overcome the Bears, who are defending the Kokoda Cup — an annual trophy played between the two sides to commemorate the World War II efforts of both countries along the famous track.
Marum said the opposition had a strong squad that would be led by Kumul prop Luke Page, pictured, and could feature former Brisbane Broncos and Queensland prop Ben Hannant as well as several in-form players in hooker Pat Politoni, former Gold Coast prop Matt White and centre Sami Sauiluma.
“They’re the form team at the moment and they’ll have a couple of players with NRL experience so we’re going to have to be much better than we’ve been,” Marum said.
“We have to start putting what we do in training on the field. It’s that simple. We play the way we train, follow the game plan and be smart we will win.”
The Hunters welcome back Adex Wera, who returns at fullback in place of the injured Edene Gabbie.
The side’s experience stocks took a hit with the loss of skipper Ase Boas (dropped) and hooker Wartovo Puara Jr (shoulder), who was replaced by Gahuna Silas, but forwards Enoch Maki and Adam Korave are the old heads in the pack while Wera is expected to play a roving role on attack.
Interestingly, Marum’s bench has no reserve half/hooker as is usually the case. Lock Rhadley Brawa could slot into dummy half at some stage of the match when Silas comes off.
The bench comprises two props (Dilbert Isaac and McKenzie Yei) and two locks (Patrick Morea and Adam Korave) while the 18th man is Julius Yakopa, a back-rower.
The match which kicks off at 2pm on Sunday will be streamed live on the Hunters Facebook page.
Hunters: 1. Adex Wera 2. Junior Rau 3. Butler Morris 4. Wawa Paul 5. Brendon Gotuno 6. Charlie Simon 7. Watson Boas 8. Enoch Maki 9.Gahuna Silas 10. Baundo Aba 11. Nixon Putt 12. Alu Ila 13. Rhadley Brawa; Reserves: 14. Patrick Morea 15. McKenzie Yei 16. Dilbert Isaac 17. Adam Korave 18. Julius Yakopa.
Rd 8 Fixtures: Sat, April 28 – Mackay Cutters v Tweed Heads Seagulls, Ipswich Jets v Redcliffe Dolphins, Easts Tigers v Norths Devils, Northern Pride v Sunshine Coast Falcons, Central Queensland Capras v Wynnum Manly Seagulls; Sun, April 29 – Burleigh Bears v PNG Hunters, Townsville Blackhawks v Souths Logan Magpies.